Man jailed over ‘random and extremely brutal’ attack on Perth mum

A man who attacked a mother as she walked home from her son’s primary school and then stamped on her head while she was unconscious was jailed yesterday over the “random and extremely brutal” assault.

The 40-year-old woman had almost reached her Bennett Springs home after dropping off her child at Beechboro Christian School in August 2015 when David Nguyen ran up to her from behind.

When she turned around, Nguyen, 30, punched her in the face and continued to bash her until she fell to the ground unconscious. He then stamped on her head several times until neighbours intervened.

The woman was left with a fractured eye socket, broken nose and bruising and has permanent damage to the vision in her right eye.

Nguyen, who had undiagnosed schizophrenia at the time and was experiencing delusions, attacked the woman because he believed she had previously assaulted one of his friends.

A District Court sentencing hearing was yesterday told that Nguyen, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, committed another random assault days later.

Lawyer Rita Sahadew argued that her client, who was being treated for his mental illness at Graylands Hospital since his arrest, was a suitable candidate for a non-custodial sentence.

But Judge Philip McCann jailed Nguyen for 18 months, saying the “terrifying” attack had a lasting effect on his victim.

“This was a random and extremely brutal attack on a vulnerable stranger on the street in broad daylight,” he said.

“The peace of mind that she formerly enjoyed has been taken from her.” Judge McCann said he had balanced Nguyen’s mental illness and psychiatric treatment needs with the seriousness of his crime. Nguyen was made eligible for parole.